Anthurium plant named ‘Lola’

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of Anthurium is provided. It is a medium size plant, suitable for production in 15-cm to 20-cm containers, with vigorous growth; full and symmetrical growth habit; early and abundant branching; abundant and year-round flowering. Exceptionally dark red and glossy spathes are held high above foliage on straight peduncles; spadices are yellow when young and white at maturity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anthuriumplant, botanically known as Anthurium hybrid, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name Lola.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Altha, Fla. The objective of the program was to developa well branching pot Anthurium cultivar with dark red, shiny spatheswell visible above foliage and with spadices contrasting with spathes.

The new Anthurium was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 1993 asa seedling within the progeny of a cross made in 1992 in a controlledenvironment in Altha, Fla. The female parent was a seedling of Anthuriumandreanum, discovered at Anthuriums of Hawaii in Hawaii, and referred toby the name Yogi Mini Red (not patented). The male parent was a selectedclone of Anthurium hybrid cultivar Ruth Morat, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 8,540, a/k/a Lady Ruth™.

Asexual propagation of ‘Lola’ by means of tissue culture in Altha, Fla.has established than the unique characteristics of this new cultivar arein fact stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Anthurium cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and/or horticultural practices such astemperature, light intensity, day length, fertilization, irrigation,propagation procedures etc., without any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and in combinationdistinguish ‘Lola’ as a new and distinct cultivar of pot Anthurium:

1. Medium size plant, appropriate for 15-cm to 20-cm containers;

2. Symmetrical, rounded and full growth habit;

3. Vigorous growth;

4. Early and abundant branching;

5. Abundant and year-round flowering;

6. Exceptionally dark red, very glossy spathes, becoming darker with ageand maintaining glossiness long past inflorescence maturity;

7. Spathes held high above foliage, mostly in the center of the plant onalmost vertical, usually straight peduncles;

8. Spadices sharply contrasting with spathes, yellow when young, whitewhen mature.

Plants of ‘Lola’ are distinguished from plants of the female parent,seedling Yogi Mini Red, by its larger size; more vigorous growth; moreabundant branching and flowering; smaller spathes, that are of muchdarker red color.

Plants of ‘Lola’ are distinguished from plants of the male parent,cultivar Ruth Morat, by its smaller size; slightly later flowering;slightly longer crop time; smaller and slightly lighter green leaves;smaller, less elongated, much darker red and glossier spathes; spadicesthat are yellow when young and white when mature, as opposed topink-purple spadices of ‘Ruth Morat’.

The new cultivar can be compared to the known Anthurium cultivars:‘75-10’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,355, a/k/a Red Hot™ and‘A8’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,551, a/k/a Nicoya™. Thecomparisons were made on plants of the same age, grown side-by-sideunder the same greenhouse conditions in Altha, Fla.

Plants of the new Anthurium cultivar differ from plants of the cultivar75-10 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of ‘Lola’ start flowering slightly later and have slightlylonger crop time than plants of ‘75-10’.

2. Inflorescences of plants of ‘Lola’ are of a good quality from theonset of flowering, whereas several first spathes produced by plants of‘75-10’. are very small and deformed.

3. Spathes of young plants of ‘Lola’ are larger than spathes of youngplants ‘75-10’.

4. Spathes of ‘Lola’ are much darker red and glossier than spathes of‘75-10’.

5. Spathes of ‘Lola’ are non-puckered and convex or cupped, whereasspathes of ‘75-10’ are puckered and wavy.

6. Spadices of ‘Lola’ are yellow when young and white when mature,whereas spadices of ‘75-10’ are purple from the time of spatheunrolling.

7. Spadices of ‘Lola’ are straight, whereas spadices of ‘75-10’ arecurved.

8. Petioles and peduncles of ‘Lola’ are predominantly green, whereaspetioles and peduncles of ‘75-10’ are predominantly red-brown.

9. Mature leaves of ‘Lola’ are slightly lighter green than mature leavesof ‘75-10’.

10. Young leaves of ‘Lola’ are light green, whereas young leaves of‘75-10’ are brownish green.

11. Veins of mature leaves of ‘Lola’ have very little to no brownishanthocyanin coloration, whereas veins of mautre leaves of ‘75-10’usually have pronounced anthocyanin coloration.

12. Roots of ‘Lola’ are cream to light brown, whereas many roots of‘75-10’ are dark pink.

Plants of the new Anthurium cultivar differ from plants of the cultivarA8 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of ‘Lola’ start flowering later and have longer crop time thanplants of ‘A8’.

2. Plants of ‘Lola’ branch slightly more freely than plants of ‘A8’.

3. Spathes of ‘Lola’ are smaller, more ovate (less deltoid) and situatedhigher above foliage than spathes of ‘A8’.

4. Spathes of ‘Lola’ are very dark red, whereas spathes of ‘A8’ arebright red.

5. Spathes of ‘Lola’ are non-puckered, convex or cupped, whereas spathesof ‘A8’ are approximately flat and usually slightly puckered.

6. Spadices of ‘Lola’ are smaller than spadices of ‘A8’.

7. Spadices of ‘Lola’ are yellow when young and white when mature,whereas spadices of ‘A8’ are pale pink-purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the appearance of the newAnthurium cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible in color reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographsmay appear slightly different from the color values cited in thebotanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors ofthe plants of the new cultivar. The plant of ‘Lola’ depicted in thephotographs was approximately 14.5 month from planting a single tissueculture-produced microcutting, and was grown in a 15-cm container.

In the photographs:

FIG. 1 depicts the whole plant;

FIG. 2 illustrates the mature inflorescence;

FIG. 3 illustrates the adaxial side of a mature leaf.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following observations and measurements were recorded in April 2000,on plants grown in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Altha, Fla.under conditions which closely approximate those used in commercialhorticultural practice. During growth of these plants day temperature inthe greenhouse ranged between 23 and 28° C., night temperature rangedbetween 20 and 23° C., and light level ranged between 800 and 1500foot-candles. Plants used for these observations were grown as singleplants in 15-cm containers and were about 14.5 months from plantingtissue culture-produced microcuttings.

Mature, fully developed plant organs were used for the followingobservations and measurements unless otherwise indicated. Numericalmeasurements represent means from typical plants of ‘Lola’. Colorreferences are made to the R.H.S. Color Chart, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary significance are used. Color values weredetermined under natural light of approximately 950 to 1400foot-candles.

Botanical classification: Anthurium hybrid cultivar Lola.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Anthurium andreanun seedling Yogi Mini Red (notpatented).

Male parent.—Selected clone of Anthurium hybrid cultivar Ruth Morat,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,540, a/k/a Lady Ruth™.

Propagation:

Type.—Plant tissue culture.

Time to produce a rooted liner.—Summer: About 16 to 18 weeks at about 25to 30° C. soil temperature. Winter: About 18 to 20 weeks at about 22 to27° C. soil temperature.

Plant description:

Growth habit.—Medium size, rounded, symmetrical, well-branched, full.Appropriate for 15-cm to 20-cm containers.

Plant size.—Height, soil level to top of inflorescences: About 32.6 cm.Height, soil level to top of leaf canopy: About 23.5 cm. Diameter (areaof spread): About 44.0 cm.

Plant vigor.—Vigorous.

Crop time.—About fourteen months are needed to produce a finished plantin a 15-cm container from a single tissue culture-produced microcutting.

Foliage description:

Petiole.—Size: About 17.3 cm long, about 3.3 mm in diameter immediatelybelow geniculum. Geniculum: About 2.2 cm long, about 3.7 mm in diameterat the base. Not very prominent. Petiole wings: About 1.4 cm long, about4.1 mm wide. Color: Newly unrolled leaf, adaxial: 144A. Newly unrolledleaf, abaxial: 144B. Mature leaf, adaxial: Geniculum varies between144A, 146A and intermediate colors. 144A below geniculum. Mature leaf,abaxial: Geniculum 144A or between 144A and 144B. Below geniculum 144B,proximally slightly darker, 144A at the base.

Leaf blade.—Shape: Ovate; apex long, acuminate; base cordate; marginentire. Size: About 16.6 cm long, about 10.6 cm wide; length : widthratio about 1.6:1. Aspect: Most leaves approximately horizontal; someslightly oblique with apices pointing slightly down; almost flat withlobes slightly curving upwards. Texture/surface: Thick, leathery,glabrous, glossy; young leaves very glossy. Venation: Pinnipalmate;midrib protrudes from adaxial and abaxial surfaces; primary veins aresunken in adaxial surface and protrude from abaxial surface. Color:Newly unrolled leaf, adaxial: Much darker than 144A, more green andslightly lighter than 146A. Slight brownish anthocyanin colorationsometimes present on midrib. Newly unrolled leaf, abaxial: Variesbetween 146B and 146C. Brownish anthocyanin coloration often present onveins. Mature leaf, adaxial: Varies between 147A and a color slightlylighter and more yellow than 147A. Proximal portions of primary veinsand more than half of midrib between 144A, 146A and 146B. Some brownishanthocyanin coloration often present near petiole juncture and extendsonto proximal portion of midrib. Mature leaf, abaxial: Greener than146B. Proximal portions of primary viens and more than half of midribslightly more yellow than 146D.

Inflorescence description:

Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held high abovefoliage, usually in the center of the plant. Peduncles almost vertical,usually straight. Most mature spathes approximately horizontal, convex,with an apex pointing downwards; some oblique, at approximately 45° fromvertical, cupped with an apex pointing to the side or slightly up. Mostspadices approximately vertical, in straight line with peduncle; someslightly leaning towards spathe.

Flowering.—Abundant and year-round. Flowers naturally in 15-cmcontainers about 13 months after planting tissue culture-producedmicrocuttings. At 14.5 months about 5.3 inflorescences per plant.

Spathe longevity.—Spathe remains red and glossy for at least 9 weeksfollowing bud appearance among foliage.

Peduncle.—Size: About 27.4 cm long, about 3.1 mm in diameter immediatelybelow spathe. About 3.1 mm of peduncle between spathe and spadix base infront. Stipe about 1-2 mm. Color: Just before spathe unrolling: Variesbetween 146A, 146B, 144A and intermediate colors. Proximal portionslightly lighter than distal. Usually some red coloration immediatelybelow spathe, especially in the back. Mature inflorescence: Most ofpeduncle is green, similar to 144A. Various portions, usually in distalhalf, have variable degrees of brownish anthocyanin coloration mixedwith green. Sometimes the front area immediately below spathe becomesrelatively dark and may be similar to one of the different combinationsof the following colors: 178A, 178B, 174A, 176A and/or 176B. The backarea immediately below spathe is often more reddish and less brownish.The front section between spathe and spadix base, orange red. The amountof brownish anthocyanin coloration on peduncles tends to increase withsubsequent inflorescence development.

Spathe.—Shape: Ovate; apex between acuminate and aristate; base cordate;margin entire. Size: About 6.1 cm long, about 4.9 cm wide; ratio length:width about 1.2:1. Texture/Surface: Glabrous; exceptionally glossy;non-puckered. Color: Closed bud (before unrolling): Approximately 146Awith a darker margin (approximately 185A) and yellow-green apex (between150A and 154A). Newly unrolled spathe, front surface: More red than185A, much darker than 46A. Newly unrolled spathe, back surface:Approximately 46A with a darker margin (approximately 185A) andyellow-green apex (between 150A and 154A). Mature spathe, front surface:Most similar to, but more red than 185A; much darker than 53A. Withsubsequent development spathe becomes progressively darker. Maturespathe, back surface: Approximately 46A with a darker margin(approximately 185A) and yellow-green apex (between 150A and 154A).

Spadix.—Shape: Cylindrical, straight, very slightly tapering at apex;cross section rounded. Size: About 3.4 cm long, about 6.3 mm indiameter. Flower density: About 8 to 10 flowers per linear centimeter ofspadix (mid-section). Color: Young, immediately after spathe unrolling:Between 11A, 8A and 7B, except for the most proximal portion, which isslightly lighter and starts turning whitish shortly after spatheunrolling. Mature inflorescence: Proximal zone, with pistils, variesbetween 158C and 159D. Distal zone, without pistils, between 11A, 7A and7B. After all pistils protrude entire spadix becomes white (between 158Cand 158D). With subsequent development, starting from spadix base,perianth becomes purple (185C), but pistils remain whitish. Eventually,perianth is darker than 185C on the entire spadix length, except forapex.

Botanical flower.—Perianth: Perianth of an individual flower appears onthe spadix surface as almost a diamond shape, about 2.5 to 3 mm long and2 mm wide. Pistil: About 2 mm long; cross-section rectangular, about 0.8mm by 0.6 mm; protrudes fraction of a mm beyond perianth; cream,translucent. Stigma minute. Stamens: About 1.2 mm long and 0.7 mm wide;cream, translucent; flat; firmly pressed against pistil. Do not protrudebeyond perianth until pollen dehiscence. Pollen: Scarce amount ofwhitish pollen rarely produced. Frangrance: not detected.

Seed.—Spontaneous seed development rarely observed.

Roots description: Main roots relatively thick, fleshy, cream to lightbrown with yellow root caps. Abundant lateral roots.

Disease and insect resistance: Plants of ‘Lola’, which are grown incommercial greenhouses, have not shown any unusual susceptibility topathogens or insects common to Anthurium.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named ‘Lola’as dsecribed and illustrated herein.